Managed to finagle some Axis back strap from a buddy. He's now a hunting guide, so he's throwing me all these exotic meats. Going to cook this up with some exotic water buffalo burgers. Going to pull this meal together with some 05 Shirvington Cabernet Sauvignon. What are you guys going to do?

We are having four adults over including two daughters, and plan (God willing) to have the original menu of grilled hamburgers and franks. Otherwise we'll cook 'em indoors. Bev is making potato salad and cole slaw. Drinks? Soda and Shipyard Summer Ale!

I'm not really sure how many are going to be here - probably about 20 or maybe a few more. Anyway, we'll be having the usual regulars of burgers and dogs, corn on the cob, baked beans and potato salad. Also going to marinate some really huge shrimp (oxymoron??) in orange and lime juices, lime zest, evoo, Dijon and thyme overnight, then grill tomorrow. Of course, I'm going to make a batch (double batch, in fact - 144 pieces) of my now world famous Buffalo Wings. SIL from NY, who works for a beer distributor, is bringing a few cases of Yeungling because they've left all of New England out of their distribution network. I'd prefer Blanche du Bruxelles or Hoegaarden, or even Castelain, but free beer is free beer. Might even drag out a Zin or two, as well. Gonna have fun and food.

Eileen and I are going over our friend Jeff's house and bringing my WoRLD famous Jerk marinated pork tenderloin for his grill. Also bringing a bottle of Spanish tank fermented garnacha the 2007 Altovinum EVODIA, a bottle of Liar's Dice zin and a bottle of Carpene Malvolti Prosecco for the girls .

Foodie, we never know when one of those old gals will get her dander up and try to stick us in the gut. Got to stay alert and don't turn your back.

Have now been informed we're having chicken alfredo tonight but no decision yet on tomorrow.

Back to the subject of the cow.... it was probably your dog that got her attention. To her, all canines look alike, whether we call them dogs, coyotes or wolves. The cow won't discriminate, she'll go after them all.

Not sure what we're eating, but I have 2 wines I'm considering -- one American (Cali Cab) and the other French (Beaujolais). The American is obvious -- it's Independence Day. The French as an homage -- they helped us, and we'd have never won it without them. So, which should we drink -- the American or the French?

Of course, we could make the question moot by drinking both, but we've got to be fresh for our drive back to Atlanta on Sunday. We'll leave at around 5 a.m., so we probably should tone down the Saturday evening celebrations and limit ourselves to just one. So, the question remains -- which one?

Chose a naught-naught Fiefs de Lagrange and 'twer indeed a bootiful jug o' juice with vibrant fruit and solid backbone to deal with the cow. Very nice indeed. Didn't decant but poured two hours before din-din. Still sippin' sublimely.